Parsons will gradually phase in in-person activities in Spring 2021, with a limited number of students, faculty, and staff physically on our New York City campus.
Please carefully review The New School's Covid-19 Community Guide, and the guidelines below to understand the parameters of safe space usage for our community. These guidelines apply to all students in the Parsons community who are accessing New School facilities.
The single most important principle in the development of Parsons’ return to campus plan is the safety of all members of the community. This means we’ve looked not only at building access policies, but we’ve also developed enhanced cleaning protocols along with increased ventilation and air quality measures, details of which are available here. Another important principle informing this plan is that we ensure access to campus facilities and equipment for the broadest possible segment of our community.
Limited Making Center access will be available to those students who are in the NYC area and wish to use the facilities outside of class time. If you plan or hope to be in the NYC area, you are required to fill out this brief form to let us know your plans and access the reservation request system.
Our approach to facilities access will be phased over the course of the semester, with regular assessments to determine capacity in response to demand and safety considerations.
This information will be updated periodically in accordance with changes to federal, state, local, and university policies. This may mean the adjustment of space usage guidelines as conditions evolve.
Access
During the first phase of reopening, making spaces will be available on a limited basis for individualized project work (task time) only. Students’ will be limited to one building for reserving space. Students will be unable to move between buildings to access different making spaces, so please select your building carefully, noting that some equipment may be available in more than one building.
The following buildings are scheduled to open with limited hours and capacity:
- Parsons East Building: 25 East 13th Street
- University Center: 63 Fifth Avenue
- Sheila C. Johnson Design Center: 2 West 13th Street
- Sheila C. Johnson Design Center: 66 Fifth Avenue
NOTE: 6 East 16th Street/79 5th Avenue will not be open.
Visit http://makingcenter.parsons.edu for the most up-to-date information, including the availability of specific labs, shops, studios, and specialized equipment. Due to distancing requirements, capacity is limited and reservations required in advance. Hours and access are subject to change, and will be posted on the website.
Activities
Students’ scheduled task time will be limited to one building, with an assigned location for work. As such, we ask that you plan your task time within your assigned building for the spring semester. Note that there will be limited access for library book drop-off at 55 West 13th St., but you will not be able to move between buildings to access different making spaces. We encourage you to consider which building has the majority of the resources you require to best support your work.
Access will be low density, with work areas placed a minimum of 6 feet apart from one another and you will be assigned a specific seat from which to work.
All students, faculty, and staff must commit to the university’s Statement of Shared Responsibility.
Masks must be worn at all times. The mask must cover both the nose and the mouth. If you do not currently own a mask, you will be provided with one prior to entering campus buildings.
In-person instruction or collaborative work is not permitted during the first phase of reopening.
To start, most spaces will have seats available for a six hour work window, and students may sign up for one 6 hour time slot per week, Monday-Friday. Parsons will reevaluate the length and number of space reservations as more information is available regarding demand and capacity.
Eligibility
At this time, Making Center access is available to all Parsons students regardless of program or year level*.
All students, including first year students, have access to the Making Center Tool Check Out, and can reserve time slots in open work areas on campus.
For all Making Center resources except Tool Check Out and open work areas, students must have completed required orientations in previous semesters and already be authorized to use equipment. All students retain their Spring 2020 authorization status. There will be no orientations this fall.
All students are able to request physical items from the Libraries by appointment, as well as electronic resources and scanned book chapters and articles. More information about Libraries, Archives, and University Learning Center services may be accessed here.
* If physical distancing guidelines require limiting access in the future, priority will be given to students in their final year of study in making based programs (all BFA, MFA, and M.ARCH programs, as well as the AAS Interior Design and Fashion Design programs) who have completed required orientations and are already authorized to use equipment.
Remote Making Consultations
In addition to our on-site resources, Making Center Technicians will be available to assist students working remotely during “Zoom Consultation Hours.” Please visit the appropriate lab/shop/studio page on the Making Center website for dates and times.
Statement of Shared Responsibility
The university has adopted procedures to promote the collective well-being of our entire community and establish our shared responsibility to act cautiously, safely, and in accordance with public health directives. Students and employees who violate or disregard the following guidelines will be referred for disciplinary action through the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards or Human Resources.
Before coming to campus, please to go Procedures for Reserving Campus Resources site and review the guidelines to help ensure the safety of our community to the greatest extent possible when an on-campus presence is needed.
All students who plan to access campus buildings for the first time each semester (regardless of vaccination status) are required to take a PCR COVID-19 test within seven days prior to their desired campus space reservation date or in-person class (off-campus students) or their move-in date (residential students). Read the university’s testing protocols carefully for more information on how to get tested and cleared for access.
Many Making Center spaces are open, with adjusted availability, for the Academic Year 2020-21. At this time, general campus access is available to all Parsons students regardless of program or year level. Students accessing campus for the first time must be tested prior to their space reservation date. Given distancing requirements, students are limited to one building for reserving space, and orientations for the Spring 2021 semester will be offered on a very limited basis. In most cases, students will retain their Spring 2020 authorization status.
For the latest details on how to reserve Making Center spaces and equipment during the Spring 2021 semester, visit the Making Center website:
Other resources available to students, faculty, staff include:
General Use Equipment Center (EQC - Arnhold Hall): checkout of audio/video production equipment
Libraries and Archives: remote and in-person services (including scanning of book chapters)
Remote Computer Lab: 24/7 remote access to select lab computers with standard software
Cafeteria (University Center)
Visit the university Access to Campus page for up-to-date information on accessing these spaces.
Parsons Computer Labs
Parsons’ Computer labs are located in rooms L402 and L403 of the Sheila Johnson Design Center (2 West 13th Street).
Please fill out the campus access survey to request access, selecting 2 West 13th Street as your building preference. That will allow you to receive access to the reservation system to schedule a time to work in a computer lab.
All individuals permitted to be on campus on a regular and ongoing basis will be required to undergo diagnostic testing when they return to campus. Employees may continue to access campus buildings while they await test results but must adhere to the daily symptom screening protocols and all other safety protocols defined in the Spring 2021 Return to Campus Plan.
COVID-19 testing is not required for employees accessing campus intermittently over the course of the semester.
To access spaces, all employees must complete a daily symptom self-screening questionnaire on the days they intend to be on campus before accessing facilities, as described in the Faculty/Staff COVID FAQ.
Faculty and staff can review the Faculty/Staff COVID-19 FAQ for additional information about the steps being taken to promote a health and safe New School environment.
Visit the university's access to campus page for up-to-date information campus access for faculty and staff.